ALZHEIMER’S ASSOCIATION CENTRAL AND WESTERN VIRGINIA RECEIVES $50,000 TO SUPPORTS ITS ARTS FUSION PLUS PROGRAM

Roanoke, VA (February 1, 2017) – Nonprofit organizations that provide services to the elderly including the Alzheimer’s Association Central and Western Virginia today received over $250,000 in grants awarded by Foundation for Roanoke Valley.

“We continue to see an increasing need for services to the elderly population. The Foundation is thrilled to be in a position to award such large impact grants in an attempt to meet the need,” says Michelle Eberly, FRV Program Officer.

The Alzheimer’s Association Central and Western Virginia received $50,000 to support its Arts Fusion Plus program. This program targets older adults in the region and offers creative arts and social activities to persons with early stage dementia in order to improve the quality of life for the person and their caregivers.

“Growing research indicates there are steps we can take to promote brain health and to enhance well-being in persons with early dementia. Interventions such as social clubs and creative, expressive arts allow individuals living with dementia to express themselves in ways that are satisfying and communicate with others, and improve quality of life” says Ellen Phipps, Alzheimer’s Association VP Programs & Public Policy.

“Generous funding provided by Foundation for Roanoke Valley will allow the Alzheimer’s Association to expand our reach in providing the ARTS FUSION program for persons with early stage dementia to engage in social, musical, and arts programming throughout the region,” says Phipps.

As part of the Foundation’s Special Interest Grants process, nonprofit organizations were given the opportunity to apply to the Foundation’s Mary Louise Home Fund and Marion S. and Willie Z. Camp Fund for Eldercare, both which support services to the elderly.

Foundation for Roanoke Valley, the region’s community foundation, has served the Roanoke Valley for more than 28 years and currently administers 318 named endowment funds established by individuals and families on behalf of the community. For more information about Foundation for RoanokeValley, visit www.foundationforroanokevalley.org

Mildred W. Spicer Arts Fund Names Two Art Leaders as Winners of 2015 Arts AwardHonoring Creativity in the Charlottesville-Albemarle Area

Charlottesville, Virginia – October 8, 2015 -- The Mildred W. Spicer Arts Fund, a Charlottesville-based initiative designed to enhance artistic discovery and creativity, is pleased to announce Constance Wyant and Alzheimer’s Association Arts Fusion as winners of its second annual Arts Award. The Arts Award celebrates inclusive art opportunities for people with disabilities within the community. An award celebration recognizing both winners for promoting art exploration throughout the Charlottesville-Albemarle area was held Thursday, October 8, 2015, at City Space.

“Both Constance Wyant and the Alzheimer’s Association Arts Fusion program represent the spirit of the Mildred W. Spicer Arts Award,” said Mary Miller, a committee member for the Mildred W. Spicer Arts Fund. “Constance represents the impact that a single individual can have within the arts community while the Alzheimer’s Association represents the joint efforts of an organization. Together, their work has helped improve art opportunities for everyone – with and without disabilities.”

The Mildred W. Spicer Arts Fund was created in May 2013 in honor of Mildred Spicer’s retirement from Charlottesville Parks and Recreation Department after 33 years as Therapeutic Recreation Supervisor. In addition to recognizing a local artist with a disability or organization supporting the arts, the Mildred W. Spicer Arts Fund provides individual scholarships to take classes and workshops related to the arts and to further develop individual art skills and expression.

Association Awarded $8,000 Grant for Arts Fusion Program in the Dan River Region

(Danville, VA) January 13, 2015 - The Community Foundation of the Dan River Region announced today a grant of $8,000 to fund the Central and Western Virginia Chapter's Arts Fusion program in the Danville area. The Community Foundation was incorporated in 1996 and has already returned more than $17 million in community grants and scholarships. Alzheimer's Association Awarded $5,000 Grant for Arts Fusion Program in Charlottesville area

(Charlottesville, VA) June 25, 2014 – The Alzheimer's Association Central and Western Virginia Chapter has been awarded a $5,000 grant from the BAMA Works Fund of Dave Matthews Band in the Charlottesville Area Community Foundation.

The award will allow the Alzheimer’s Association to increase and expand quality of life experiences to a greater number of persons living with Alzheimer’s disease in Charlottesville and surrounding counties through its Arts Fusion Program.

"This generous support from the Bama Works Fund of Dave Matthews Band in the Charlottesville Area Community Foundation is not only greatly appreciated, it is invaluable to the Arts Fusion program expansion. Research shows that meaningful engagement with the arts improves quality of life for those with dementia...and their care partners. We are pleased to partner with the Bama Works Fund to serve our community needs," said Sue Friedman, president and CEO of the Alzheimer's Association Central and Western Virginia chapter.

Established in 1998, the Bama Works Fund of Dave Matthews Band in CACF supports programs for disadvantaged youth, environmental protection, needs of the disabled, and for the arts and humanities, primarily in the Charlottesville area. It has also responded with support to a variety of communities in the United States and other countries. The Fund has made over 800 grants totaling more than $15 million since it began.

The Charlottesville Area Community Foundation (CACF) is a permanent endowment dedicated to improving the quality of life for the people of the city of Charlottesville and the counties of Albemarle, Buckingham, Fluvanna, Greene, Louisa, Nelson and Orange since 1967. The Foundation also assists Charlottesville-area donors by assisting with their charitable giving.

Arts Fusion receives 3rd place for the Commonwealth Council on Aging’s 2014 Best Practices Award

A $2,000 award for 3rd place was awarded to the Alzheimer’s Association Central and Western Virginia Arts Fusion program on May 12, 2014.

blechs@charlottesville.orgMildred W. Spicer Arts Fund Names Two Art Leaders as Winners of 2015 Arts AwardHonoring Creativity in the Charlottesville-Albemarle Area

Charlottesville, Virginia – September 24, 2015 -- The Mildred W. Spicer Arts Fund, a Charlottesville-based initiative designed to enhance artistic discovery and creativity, is pleased to announce Constance Wyant and Alzheimer’s Association Arts Fusion as winners of its second annual Arts Award. The Arts Award celebrates inclusive art opportunities for people with disabilities within the community. An award celebration recognizing both winners for promoting art exploration throughout the Charlottesville-Albemarle area is scheduled for Thursday, October 8, 2015, at City Space, and is open to the public.

“Both Constance Wyant and the Alzheimer’s Association Arts Fusion program represent the spirit of the Mildred W. Spicer Arts Award,” said Mary Miller, a committee member for the Mildred W. Spicer Arts Fund. “Constance represents the impact that a single individual can have within the arts community while the Alzheimer’s Association represents the joint efforts of an organization. Together, their work has helped improve art opportunities for everyone – with and without disabilities.”

The Mildred W. Spicer Arts Fund was created in May 2013 in honor of Mildred Spicer’s retirement from Charlottesville Parks and Recreation Department after 33 years as Therapeutic Recreation Supervisor. In addition to recognizing a local artist with a disability or organization supporting the arts, the Mildred W. Spicer Arts Fund provides individual scholarships to take classes and workshops related to the arts and to further develop individual art skills and expression. ###

As part of the Foundation’s Special Interest Grants process, nonprofit organizations were given the opportunity to apply to the Foundation’s Mary Louise Home Fund and Marion S. and Willie Z. Camp Fund for Eldercare, both which support services to the elderly.

Foundation for Roanoke Valley, the region’s community foundation, has served the Roanoke Valley for more than 28 years and currently administers 318 named endowment funds established by individuals and families on behalf of the community. For more information about Foundation for RoanokeValley, visit www.foundationforroanokevalley.org.